Independent candidate Siobhan Benita said today she had had a “fantastic result” in this year’s mayoral race and that her political career was only just beginning.

As experts said it was still “conceivable” she could challenge Lib-Dem Brian Paddick for third place, Ms Benita told the Standard that she will remain in London politics following her late surge in her popularity.

And she refused to rule out working alongside the next Mayor of London if she is offered a job. Ms Benita spent this morning with her two daughters and other family members at her home in New Malden before travelling to City Hall for the main election count.

She had supporters at all the counts across London, including her husband Vincent, who was at Olympia. Ms Benita’s camp today said that their early indications point towards a possible fourth-place finish.

London politics expert Tony Travers, of the LSE, said that Ms Benita may have taken away a significant number of votes from Labour candidate Ken Livingstone.

Ms Benita said: “Finishing above any of the parties would be fantastic for me. This is definitely not the end for me. What this election has

shown is that we need a different type of politics. We are seeing that through the turnout in the elections across the rest of the country. People are fed up with the system we have.”